Undergraduate Degree Roadmaps

Notes

• Students who want a more rigorous math background may choose MATH 225 & 376 instead of just MATH 245. MATH 225 is offered in both fall and spring semesters; MATH 376 is only offered in fall and may be taken concurrently with PHYS 330, 385. Students who take MATH 225 & 376 will only need one more math class to complete the Minor in Mathematics.
• B.S. Physics requires 8-11 units of upper-division electives in physics, astronomy, or related fields.  Students who select MATH 245 will need to take 11 units of major electives, while students who select both MATH 225 & 376 will need to take 8 units of major electives.
• PHYS 457 can be taken earlier, in any spring semester after PHYS 230/232.  Acceptable substitution for PHYS 457 is ENGR 205 & 206 (offered in fall and spring).

Notes

• Students who want a more rigorous math background may choose MATH 225 & 376 instead of just MATH 245. MATH 225 is offered in both fall and spring semesters; MATH 376 is only offered in fall and may be taken concurrently with PHYS 330, 385. Students who take MATH 225 & 376 will only need one more math class to complete the Minor in Mathematics.
• B.S. Physics/Astrophysics requires 3-6 units of upper-division electives in physics, astronomy, or related fields.  Students who select MATH 245 will need to take 6 units of major electives, while students who select both MATH 225 & 376 will need to take 3 units of major electives.
• While ASTR 115 is not required for the B.S. Physics/Astrophysics degree, students are strongly encouraged to take it in their first year to give them a broad overview of all of astronomy. However, units do not count towards the B.S. degree.
• While PHYS 321 (Modern Physics Lab) is not required for the B.S. Physics/Astrophysics degree, students are strongly encouraged to take it in the fall of the third year (along with PHYS 320); units can count toward physics/astronomy electives.
• Senior Project (ASTR 697) often takes more than one semester; students are strongly encouraged to speak with potential project advisors in the spring of the third year, and to start as soon as possible in the fall of the final year; units can be taken in fall or spring.

Notes

• B.S. Physics for Teaching requires 9-12 units of lower or upper-division electives in physics, astronomy, or related fields. Students are strongly encouraged to use these units toward a minor in mathematics or another science.  Students who select MATH 245 will need to take 12 units of major electives, while students who select both MATH 225 & 376 will need to take 9 units of major electives.
• Students who want a more rigorous math background may choose MATH 225 & 376 instead of just MATH 245. MATH 225 is offered in both fall and spring semesters; MATH 376 is only offered in fall and may be taken concurrently with PHYS 330, 385.  Students who take MATH 225 & 376 can complete the Minor in Mathematics by taking PHYS 430 or 460 or 480 and only 1 more math class.

Notes

• Students who want a more rigorous math background may choose MATH 225 & 376 instead of just MATH 245. MATH 225 is offered in both fall and spring semesters; MATH 376 is only offered in fall and may be taken concurrently with PHYS 330, 385.  Students who take MATH 225 & 376 can complete the Minor in Mathematics by taking PHYS 430 or 460 or 480 and only 1 more math class.
• Students who select MATH 225 & 376 do not need any major electives to complete the degree; students who instead take only MATH 245 will need 3 additional units of major electives to complete the degree.

Notes

• Students who want a more rigorous math background may choose MATH 225 & 376 instead of just MATH 245. MATH 225 is offered in both fall and spring semesters; MATH 376 is only offered in fall and may be taken concurrently with PHYS 320.  Students who take MATH 225 & 376 can complete the Minor in Mathematics by taking PHYS 430 or 460 or 480 and only 1 more math class.
• B.A. Physics/Astronomy requires 3-6 units of upper-division electives in physics, astronomy, or related fields.  Students who select MATH 245 will need to take 6 units of major electives, while students who select both MATH 225 & 376 will need to take 3 units of major electives.

Minor in Mathematics

The Minor in Mathematics requires 24 units. With careful planning, all of these units can overlap with physics and/or astronomy degrees. Students who want to complete the Minor in Mathematics should not take MATH 245 but instead take both MATH 225 and 376. MATH 225 is offered in both fall and spring semesters; MATH 376 is only offered in fall and may be taken concurrently with PHYS 330 and 385. Furthermore, the Department of Mathematics allows either PHYS 430 or 460 or 480 to count toward the Minor in Mathematics.  

• MATH 226
• MATH 227
• MATH 228
• MATH 225
• MATH 376
• PHYS 430 or PHYS 460 or PHYS 480 or MATH elective
• MATH elective

Recommended math courses relevant to physics include MATH 324, 380, 400, 425, 440, 448, 450, 451, 460, 462, 471, or 477.